Clamp for umbilical cords and the like



Jan. 27, 1953 M. GARLAND 2,626.608

I CLAMP FOR UMBILICAL CORDS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 8, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 FIG. I M

FIG.9 INVENTOR MATHER GARLAND n4 @wl? BY ATTORNEYS Jan. 27, 1953 GARLAND 2,626.608

CLAMP FOR UMBILICAL CORDS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 8, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 FIG. IO (LL mi 15,

FIG.I| I I FIGJZ MIC/1 los I IQ: I05 105 FIG.I3

low

lO/i/ JNVENTOR MATHER GARLAND ATTORNEYS Patented 7 Jan. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLAMP FOR UMBILICAL CORDS AND THE LIKE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus including a highly efllcient clamp for sealing and clamping an umbilical cord or analogous tubular vessel or conduit.

Various umbilical clips and funis clamps have been patented and in some instances, put into restricted use but all of these devices, to my knowledge, have been objectionable for one reason or the other. In some instances, umbilical clamps heretofore used have been unsafe for the reason that the jaw members of the clamping structure were not permanently secured in operative relation. In many instances, the clip or clamp could not be applied until after cutting of the cord and then only with difiiculty while in other instances, the clamp could not be depended upon to thoroughly clamp and seal the cord and retain the same in sealed relation.

It is an object of my invention to provide apparatus comprising a highly eflicient metal clamp cooperatively related with a special pliers to enable the clamp to be positively applied and locked from an open position, receiving the uncut cord and bent and. formed to give double strength and a greater area for efficiently clamping flexible tubular members such as cords of various sizes.

A further object is the provision of an extremely simple, one piece clamp of the class described which has positive locking facilities and toassure safety, which is of extremely light weight and sanitary and which when operatively applied, lies in an arcuate or curved form preventing injury if the cord becomes displaced about a babys neck.

It is a further object to provide a clamp of the class described which contains no sharp edges whereby the cord may be cut and which is of such simplicity and structure that the cost thereof is negligible.

Another object is the provision of a clamp of they class described wherein the most efficient clamping application may be obtained with elimination of all rough or sharp edges to prevent possible injury to the umbilical cord or other tubular element to be constructed. 1

.These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of my improved clamp in open position, ready for application to a cord or shank;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing my special clamp operating, forming and locking pliers in initial clamp retaining position with one of my clamps positioned therein for application;

' Fig. 3 is a similar view with the handle portions of the pliers broken away showing the position of the jaws of the pliers and the legs of the clamp during the first stages of the clampapplying operation;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the positioning of the jaws of the pliers and the formation of the clamp and sealing of the flexible cord in the last stage of operation of the pliers;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the clamp operatively applied to a section of cord;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 6-6 of Fi 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the operating face of the lower jaw of the pliers detached;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the operative face of the upper jaw of the pliers detached; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a plan view on an enlarged scale showing the strip properly formed and corrugated for constituting the several forms of clamps or clip disclosed herein;

Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 are cross sections taken on the lines ll--ll and l2-l2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of a somewhat different form of clip than that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the same clamped about a tubular element;

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of another form of clamp;

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the same clamped about a flexible tube; and

Fig. 17 is a cross section taken on the line l1'll of Fig. 14.

The clamp shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is integrally formed from a strip of non-corrosive ductile or malleable metal such as thin aluminum which is capable of being forcibly bent and retaining its shape when bent. The clamp indicated as an entirety by the numeral I0 is before operation thereof, in the general form of a letter V having an apex Illa medially of its length and having a pair of opposed clamping legs lb and diverging therefrom. The longer leg Iflchas an extension that is inturned to form a normally open locking flange Ind related .to the adjacent portion of the leg in the manner of a small inverted V. Longer leg lllc as shown, is substantially straight from the apex Illa to the flange The shorter leg 10b terminates in preferably a straight end f adapted during application and forming of my clamp through the cooperation of a pair of special pliers P to be projected beneath the locking flange 18d of the longer leg and thereafter positively locked and clinched under said flange. Leg "1b is also preferably curved or bent at an intermediate portion although this bending is not essential to the shape, functioning or operation of my apparatus.

In the form of the clamps shown, the longer leg We is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel ribs [01' protruding .fromthe inner surface thereof and extending from points adjacent the apex liia to points short of the bent extremity IOd. These ribs may be conveniently formed by a die in corrugated manner and. serve to reinforce the leg IEic as well as to provide between the ribs, a seating channel to receive a complementary longitudinal rib liiL formed centrally in the leg [8b and-protruding from the inner' side thereof. The "longitudinal edges of the legs 10b and lilc are formedinto beaded or rounded" portions asclearly shown in Fig. 6 -to prevent any tendency of cutting a cord or other member-when theclamp is applied.

'To apply, lock and form my clamp I6, I have perfected and provided a special tool,preferably in'the form of a pair of pliers P having a pair of crossed shanks and i2 pivoted adjacent their outer ends upon a pivot screw I5 and having a thumb and finger-handle respectively, Ila and [2a, fixed to the extremities thereof. Shank H has integrally formed therewith, a jaw 13 having a'curved outer portion and provided with a substantially arcuate clamping surface I311 near the outerextremity thereof and having a notch or shoulder [32) disposed just inwardly of the concaveportion-for seating and receiving the apex lila of one of theclamps; The jaw Hat-its outer extremity is provided with an abutment finger having shouldered relation with reference to a seat to initially abut and retain the outerextremity of the leg lilc of one of my clamps. Jaw I3 is also preferably but notnecessarily provided with a pair of spaced'retaining ears l3ddisposed just forwardly or outwardly of the apex retaining seat 13b and a second pair of strip-retaining ears-l3e disposed justrearwardly of the shoulder andabutment extremity l3c.-

The shank I2 of thepliers has integrally formed or otherwise rigidly secured therewith, a reversely curved jaw indicated as an entirety by the number l4 and having at its outer-portion, aconvex clamping section Ma opposed-to the clamping jaw portion 13 and eomplementarily shaped to'the concaveopposed jaw portion 13a.

Jaw I4 is also preferably provided on the anvil or die portion opposed to the jaw section l3a with longitudinally beveled surfaces Mb which assist in nesting and properly aligning the clamp It to prevent lateral displacement and which cooperate in the clamping and forming action to contour. the upperleg we of theclamp in concavo convex cross sectional form, as clearly shown in Fig. .6.

I prefer to provide means such as a clip spring I6 for urging theshanks and consequently, jaws l3 and l4.together with light pressure adequate to retain the clamp in its open position...

.In use, one ofmy clamps is readily applied to the pliers P. with .the jaws l3,and I4 of the pliers in open position, as shown .in, Fig. 2, the apex lfla of the clamp being seated in the apex notch l3b of jaw, l.3. and.the.ends of the legs [0b and lflc of the clamp being'respectively engaged by the convex clamping surface l 441 of jaw I 4 and the abutment finger 130 of jaw [3 of the pliers. The clamp is held in the open position for application shown in Fig. 2 with the light tension placed on the jaws by spring I8 retaining the clamp from falling out. The retaining ears [3d and 13a serve to more securely retain the clamp or clip H3 although they may be dispensed with and satisfactory results obtained.

The clamp in the pliers P may then be moved to partially surround an unbilical cord U or other tubular or shank like member.

In surrounding position, as shown in Fig. 2, the jaws of the pliers are forced together by manipulation of the handles Ila and Ma of the shanks, causing in the first closing movement of the jaws, the leg liib to be moved towards the longer leg lfic, its extremity [Elf slipping beneath the hook like clinchingflange Hid of the longer leg to. the position. shownin Big. .,3.,..Further closing movement of jaws l3 .andldbendsend forms the shorter. leg We of the clamp first to substantially a straight position withwtheextremity. illf. longitudinally moving outwardlybeneaththeclinching flange 1611.. Thereafter, closing movement. of the plierjaws starts thecurving or bowing of the two legs 3?). 33 1.550 shortening the over-all length .of the vvdoubledclainp member and bringingthe hook flange IBd intoposition beneath the outerportion of. the convex jaw clamping surface l..4a.,.At; this time, .theextremityof theilonger leg .liic hasbecome disengaged by the. abutment finger 3cand isinterposed between the .outerportionsof the cooperating clamping surfaces !3a and Ma of the two jaws,.as shown in.Fig- 4.

The jaws. i3 and [.4 aremovedtogether .tothe extremeilimit of movement,.clamping the legs tightly against thecord orshank U and forming the clampinto the .arcuate, operative position .shownin Figs. 4 .to 6 inclusive for tightly sealing the cord. ortube and for very positively affixing the clamp tothe cord, tube or shank.

It is to bounderstood that allof the longitudinal edges of my clamp are nicely rounded. to prevent any possible cutting of .theskinor cord at the area of stricture or in adjacent portions thereof. l i

; a 'As Willbe seen from Figs. 6 and 1 7.,-when-my clamp is applied the longitudinal rib lfi-Lof the shorter leg 3b seats in the channel formedbetween -the spaced, longitudinal ribs IE1 of the longer leg I80, producing a very effective sealing j action of a tubular cord such as the umbilical cord or an artery. The cord-is actually clamped and sealed throughout a double, 'reversely. curved clamping zone. My clamp or clip- IE) is of such simplicity and is so light that when used upon an umbilical cordit may be retained by the baby until the cord sloughs off. The smooth, rounded, longitudinaledges of the legs of theclampprevent any injuryto cord or the skin of-the baby. i The inherent form of the clamplill and its formation and bending-into arcuate shape-by the carrying out of mymethod and theuseo'fmy forming and clinching jaws, results in .a strong, rigid construction of double. thickness with reinforcing through the arcuatebending. v,flCheicurved structure of theclampwhen operativelyformed and applied, gives greater areaon thecontacting or clipping portions than if thestructure were retained in straight line clampingv position. It will further be seen that ease. anclaccuracy of. application.of,my.structure due to thecombination of the novel structure of clip as well as aeeaeoa the inventive tool for forming and clinching and clamping the structure, is an important factor. For medical or surgical uses, the clamp may be instantly applied before the umbilical cord is out.

While my structure and method has particular applicability for surgical use on umbilical cords and other conduits of the human body, it is also well adapted for use as an attachment tag or identification for application to the legs of fowls or for application to rods or shank like elements of mechanical structure or apparatus.

Referring now to the second sheet of the drawings Fig. shows in top plan a, strip of aluminum or alruninum alloy or other suitable ductile metal cut out and formed to constitute the various forms of clamp disclosedin Fig; l and in Figs- 11 to 16 inclusive. From an inspection of enlarged, cross sectional views Figs. 11 and 12, it will be noted that the longitudinal edges of the strip are turned and formed somewhat inwardly to constitute smooth, rounded, marginal elements "is. The longitudinal ribs IDL and 101' as shown in Figs. 10 to 12 are formed on the topface of the strip and are opposed when the strip is bent into general V-shape along the apex 50a. The depths of these corrugations or ribs are indicated in preferred form in the cross sectional views, Figs. 11 and 12. It will be noted that the end Hid of the strip which forms the locking flange or hook is uncorrugated to facilitate the bending or formation of the locking flange.

In Figs. 13 and 14, a somewhat different form of my clamp is illustrated wherein through the relation and shaping of the two legs I61) and ltc, my method of clamping and sealing a flexible, tubular element such as an artery or umbilical cord may be very quickly and accurately carried out by hand. In this form, both the upper and lower legs of the clamp or clip are curved alike upon substantially arcuate lines again giving the general configuration of a V in the manufacture of the finished clamp with the extremities of the clamp disposed widely apart for facilitating application to a cord or shank like member.

This clamp shown in Figs. 13 and 14 may be applied and a flexible, tubular element such as an umbilical cord securely clamped by finger pressure upon the medial and corrugated portions of the two legs lllb and I90. Finger pressure is sufficient to force the medial, corrugated portions of the two legs together with the longitudinalrib IOL of the upper leg seated in the channel formed between the two opposed ribs I01 of the longer and lower leg I00. The uncorrugated end llid of the lower leg or jaw may then be, by finger pressure, folded tightly over the extremity ID of the shorter jaw to clinch and tightly lock the device as shown in Fig. 14. If it is desired to apply even further clamping pressure, the doubled applied clamp may be bent through a shorter are, thereby further clamping the umbilical cord or other tubular element gripped.

In Fig. 15 and Fig. 16, a slightly different form of the invention is shown where the clip as manufactured, has the upper and lower legs lflb'and I00 of straight configuration. Here, the uncorrugated outer locking end lild of the lower leg is preferably somewhat longer than the corresponding part of the forms previously described. In this form, as in the forms shown in Figs. 13 and 14 of the invention, my method of clamping a tubular element or shank may be carried out manually by forcing the two legs I01) and life together and then clinching the uncorrugated locking portion of the lower leg against the 6. doubled structure. This structure where comparatively stiff but bendable strip material is utilized for the clamp, is adequate to seal and positively clamp the flexible elements of many types. Here, again if further clamping action is desired, the applied clamp as shown in Fig. 16

may be bent by curving the same concavely when viewed from the top to further apply clamping pressure and to increase the rigidity of the'str'ucture.

From the foregoing description with reference to Figs. 13 to 17, it will be seen that my method is not limited to initially forcing the legs-together and clinching the locking flange over the extremity of the shorter leg through application of a die-equipped or anvil-equipped instrument or tool but may be carried out successfully within the scopeof my invention by hand.

With further reference to the import-ant advantages of all forms of my clamp structure per se, it will be noted that two sets of longitudinal corrugations are formed in the strip which in the clamping operation have opposed and a close cooperative relationship. The strip constructed of aluminum or other suitable ductile metallic material being malleable is adapted to be corrugated longitudinally and throughout the thickness thereof, to form as shown in the longer leg 100, a pair of spaced ribs or corrugations and in the shorter leg Iflb. as shown, a single rib or corrugation.

When the two legs are forced together to clamp against a tubular element or shank, the ribs will interlock thereby preventing lateral displacement of the two legs and of course through their original inherent structure will afford reinforcement longitudinally of the legs. However, when the double clamp is set as described and then is deformed by sharply curving (longitudinally of the clamp) the corrugated structure, the inherent nature of the corrugated or embossed longitudinal elements causes deformation thereof to produce a stiffening and resultant rigidity of the double structure which itself resists retraction of the legs. Thus, the longitudinal cooperating complementary corrugations or ribs of the two legs are structurally changed during the longitudinal bending or curving of the doubled clamp structure after initial application either by the applying and forming pliers or through the iongitudinal bending step of my method carried out by hand.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A clamp for flexible tubular elements and the like, comprising a pair of opposed clamping legs in the form of strip portions constructed from ductile material of such ductility as to be bent with facility and to retain its shape when bent, means fixedly interconnecting said legs in a preformed, general V-shape, one of said legs being longer than the other and including an extension at one end thereof foldable over the free end of the other leg when said legs have been deformed into clamping relationship, the relative lengths of the legs being such that the legs can be moved relative to each other without the extension oifering any resistance to movement of the shorter leg into clamping relationship with the longer leg.

2. The clamp of claim 1 and wherein the inner ease-pee 7 suffa ees, "of "the legs havefproti uding means for doope'i'fativeclamping interenga'gement, ,7 I

The clamp as recited inclaim *z wherein said last recited means is comprised of a rib fer'mation on 'afirst of the legs and a complementary substantially "parallel'rib "formation on th'secondjofsaidlegs. V v I I 4. The clamp as recited in claim 1 wherein a first ofthe' legs is'of longitudinal arcuate shape.

5. The, clampnas recited in claiml wherein bath "of "said' legs e are bf longitudinal a'muane shape jand ,,the extension of the longer leg is adapted tobe 'm'anu'allyfdlded over the shorter 1 v ,.6. The clamp as reeited'injelaim '1 wherein bothjqf said legs "atesulgstantiazlly shjai ht and the extension of the longerleg is ada'pted'to be manually folded Oven theshorter leg.

7. The clampas recited in claim 1 wherein the sn 'rt' lieg 'or longitudinal arc ujat'e shape. 8.; The clamp as recited; in Claim 1 'Whe 'einthe shorterleg is of longitudinal areuateshape and the other leg is substantially straight.

'MATHER GARLAND.

V V REFERENCES CITED 7, The'following references are of record in the file of this patent: I I

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

